Tara Torseth
Excellence in Professional Development Award
Corey Butler, MNCPA communications manager | October/November 2024 Footnote
Editor's note: Updated September 30, 2024
As any CPA knows, understanding the ever-changing complex laws, rules and regulations of the accounting profession is increasingly challenging and demanding. Finding someone who can help explain this can be difficult. Finding someone who can instruct on it in an engaging, informative way is a skill set many do not possess.
Fortunately for MNCPA members, fellow member Tara Torseth does have this super skill.
A member of 17 years, last year Tara stepped forward to present on Minnesota estate taxes, a technical and highly requested topic by CPE attendees. Tara created and presented a webinar around filing rules, planning ideas and Form M706, attracting high enrollment and even higher scores, especially for a first-time instructor.
Evaluation comments from attendees underscored both the quality of Tara’s presentation and the value her content offered to attendees.
“Fantastic webinar. Tara’s knowledge of the materials was outstanding,” wrote one attendee.
Remarked another attendee, “Tara did an excellent job and clearly knew her stuff.”
Tara received an average knowledge rating of 4.6 and a presentation rating of 4.5 on a 5-point scale.
Because of her efforts, Tara received the Excellence in Professional Development Award, which recognizes members who develop unique MNCPA educational programming and elevates the professional development of attendees.
“What an honor,” she said. “I am very grateful people enjoyed the class I presented on.”
Tara said she was thankful for the support of her firm, Abdo LLP, for the encouragement of her own growth and learning that led to this opportunity.
She gave similar kudos to the MNCPA.
“Thank you to the MNCPA for fostering a community of excellence and integrity,” she said. “The MNCPA is very organized and helpful with their presenters. They made the process very easy.
Tara also encourages fellow members to consider teaching.
“I know everyone is very busy, but being available to present on a topic is the best time to learn new things yourself on the topic. I grew and learned from presenting. I always say, you learn the most when teaching others.”
